BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo's first ever sports entertainment center, totaling $30 million, is coming to 555 Elk St.
A similar one will also be built in Knoxville, Tennessee.
"These projects are very important to communities like Buffalo and like Knoxville in that those markets are very underserved from an entertainment perspective," said Jerry Merola, a managing partner with New Jersey-based Amusement Entertainment Management.
RELATED ARTICLE: OnCore Golf buys property for $30M downtown golf-anchored center
Amusement Entertainment Management is the new company working with OnCore Golf to bring their ShotClub Social to Western New York.
OnCore Golf previously partnered with Buffalo RiverWorks in 2019, but that was stopped during COVID.
Merola says the new space is more than eight acres, and will be home to a two-story, 40,000-square-foot building for anyone looking to have some fun.
"This is a multi-dimensional project. It's intended for many different styles of users. But most importantly, it's a leisure project," Merola said.
"I like to think of these facilities as really a hub for the city and the city's residents."
ShotClub Social will have a driving range, bowling, arcade games, golf simulators, virtual reality components, and a restaurant when it's finally open year-round.
Merola says the bays at the driving range will be heated during colder months.
"We're well down the road working with the project's architects and engineers in completing the final designs which will ultimately get submitted to the city. Once that process is complete, we'll have a much clearer understanding of the actual timeline of construction and ultimately opening," Merola said.